Key Votes

Chamber

Keyword Search

Search string must be longer than 3 characters.

Vote Smart provides easy access to congressional and state voting records and maintains a collection of key votes grouped by issue. Vote Smart uses the following criteria to select key votes:

  1. The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
  2. The vote should be clear for any person to understand
  3. The vote has received media attention
  4. The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
  5. Occasionally, if a specific bill is consistently inquired about on the Voter's Research Hotline, the vote will be added

Vote Smart provides a summary of the version of the bill text associated with each selected key vote. Our summaries are written by Vote Smart's staff and interns, who adhere to our strict policies and procedures in order to guarantee absolute impartiality and accuracy. They do not necessarily reflect the content of the final version of the bill, but rather the version voted on in that stage. While many procedural votes take place before a full chamber vote, our voting stages reflect the final reading of each chamber vote. Each key vote selection is reviewed by the project's community of advisors, who are political scientists and journalists from all fifty states.

For more information about the legislative process, see here.


Page 1 of 4
results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
Feb. 12, 2015 CO SB 77 Extends Parental Rights in Education and Health Care Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
Feb. 5, 2015 IL SB 11 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18)
Jan. 27, 2015 CO SB 52 Expands Legislative Oversight of the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
Feb. 4, 2015 MO HB 150 Limits Duration of Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - House (112 - 47)
March 5, 2015 NV SB 119 Exempts Schools from Paying Prevailing Wages Bill Passed - House (23 - 19)
Feb. 16, 2015 NV SB 119 Exempts Schools from Paying Prevailing Wages Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9)
Feb. 18, 2015 SD SB 177 Establishes a Youth Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
Feb. 10, 2015 SD HB 1195 Requires a Student's Gender Identity to be Determined by a Birth Certificate Bill Passed - House (51 - 16)
Feb. 10, 2015 KY HB 2 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - House (56 - 43)
April 2, 2015 ND SB 2279 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation Bill Failed - House (35 - 56)
Feb. 17, 2015 ND SB 2279 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 22)
Feb. 12, 2015 MO HB 116 Prohibits Mandatory Payment of Fees to Labor Organizations Bill Passed - House (91 - 64)
Jan. 14, 2015 National HR 240 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (236 - 191)
Feb. 25, 2015 NC SB 2 Authorizes Officials to Not Perform Certain Marriage Duties Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
Feb. 24, 2015 IA SF 269 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
Feb. 10, 2015 WY SF 115 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Idenity Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
Feb. 26, 2015 MN SF 174 Requires Legislative Approval for Certain Salary Increases Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 29)
March 18, 2015 MO SB 24 Reduces the Lifetime Limit for Certain Government Benefits Bill Passed - House (115 - 44)
Feb. 23, 2015 MO SB 24 Reduces the Lifetime Limit for Certain Government Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
Feb. 26, 2015 MT SB 262 Establishes Water Rights Compact Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
Feb. 20, 2015 MT HB 200 Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (55 - 45)
Feb. 23, 2015 IN HB 1019 Repeals Common Construction Wage Bill Passed - House (55 - 41)
Feb. 26, 2015 AZ SB 1092 Requires Waivers for Certain Health Insurance Bill Passed - House (34 - 23)
Feb. 23, 2015 AZ SB 1092 Requires Waivers for Certain Health Insurance Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
March 5, 2015 WI SB 44 Prohibits Employers from Mandating Employees to Join or Pay Unions Bill Passed - House (62 - 35)
Feb. 25, 2015 WI SB 44 Prohibits Employers from Mandating Employees to Join or Pay Unions Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
March 3, 2015 WA HB 1355 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - House (51 - 46)
Feb. 27, 2015 KY SB 76 Prohibits Students from Using Restrooms Designated for the Opposite Sex Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
Feb. 25, 2015 UT SB 164 Establishes Medicaid Expansion Pilot Program Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
Feb. 27, 2015 VA HB 1570 Increases Regulations on Day Care Providers Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 26)
March 11, 2015 UT SB 296 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation Bill Passed - House (65 - 10)
March 6, 2015 UT SB 296 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5)
Feb. 11, 2015 MS SB 2695 Establishes Education Scholarship Accounts for Special Needs Students Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21)
March 5, 2015 GA SB 129 Prohibits Government Interference with Religious Practice Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 15)
March 5, 2015 AZ SB 1222 Prohibits Plea Agreements for Individuals Deported During Trial Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
March 3, 2015 WV SB 361 Amends Prevailing Wage Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
Feb. 28, 2015 WV SB 361 Amends Prevailing Wage Laws Bill Passed - House (56 - 39)
Feb. 12, 2015 WV SB 361 Amends Prevailing Wage Laws Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
March 11, 2015 MO HB 187 Prohibits Undocumented Immigrants from Receiving Student Financial Aid Bill Passed - House (111 - 41)
March 12, 2015 AR HB 1489 Reduces Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
March 12, 2015 NH SB 261 Increases Minimum Wage "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
May 7, 2015 OR HB 2307 Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
March 17, 2015 OR HB 2307 Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors Bill Passed - House (41 - 18)
March 11, 2015 NH HB 658 Prohibits Requiring Employees to Join or Pay Unions Bill Passed - House (149 - 146)
March 23, 2015 MN HF 1027 Amends Minimum Wage for Employees Receiving Gratuities Bill Passed - House (78 - 55)
March 24, 2015 MD SB 416 Requires Health Insurers to Cover In Vitro Fertilization for Same-Sex Couples Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 10)
March 20, 2015 ID HJM 4 Appeals to Congress to Impeach Certain Members of the Judiciary Bill Passed - House (44 - 25)
March 20, 2015 ID HJM 4 Appeals to Congress to Impeach Certain Members of the Judiciary Bill Passed - House (44 - 25)
April 7, 2015 NV AB 165 Establishes the Nevada Educational Choice Scholarship Program Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9)
April 1, 2015 NV AB 165 Establishes the Nevada Educational Choice Scholarship Program Bill Passed - House (25 - 17)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/12 SB 77 Extends Parental Rights in Education and Health Care Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
2/05 SB 11 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18)
1/27 SB 52 Expands Legislative Oversight of the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
2/04 HB 150 Limits Duration of Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - House (112 - 47)
3/05 SB 119 Exempts Schools from Paying Prevailing Wages Bill Passed - House (23 - 19)
2/16 SB 119 Exempts Schools from Paying Prevailing Wages Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9)
2/18 SB 177 Establishes a Youth Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
2/10 HB 1195 Requires a Student's Gender Identity to be Determined by a Birth Certificate Bill Passed - House (51 - 16)
2/10 HB 2 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - House (56 - 43)
4/02 SB 2279 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation Bill Failed - House (35 - 56)
2/17 SB 2279 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 22)
2/12 HB 116 Prohibits Mandatory Payment of Fees to Labor Organizations Bill Passed - House (91 - 64)
1/14 HR 240 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (236 - 191)
2/25 SB 2 Authorizes Officials to Not Perform Certain Marriage Duties Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
2/24 SF 269 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
2/10 SF 115 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Idenity Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
2/26 SF 174 Requires Legislative Approval for Certain Salary Increases Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 29)
3/18 SB 24 Reduces the Lifetime Limit for Certain Government Benefits Bill Passed - House (115 - 44)
2/23 SB 24 Reduces the Lifetime Limit for Certain Government Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
2/26 SB 262 Establishes Water Rights Compact Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
2/20 HB 200 Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (55 - 45)
2/23 HB 1019 Repeals Common Construction Wage Bill Passed - House (55 - 41)
2/26 SB 1092 Requires Waivers for Certain Health Insurance Bill Passed - House (34 - 23)
2/23 SB 1092 Requires Waivers for Certain Health Insurance Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
3/05 SB 44 Prohibits Employers from Mandating Employees to Join or Pay Unions Bill Passed - House (62 - 35)
2/25 SB 44 Prohibits Employers from Mandating Employees to Join or Pay Unions Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
3/03 HB 1355 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - House (51 - 46)
2/27 SB 76 Prohibits Students from Using Restrooms Designated for the Opposite Sex Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
2/25 SB 164 Establishes Medicaid Expansion Pilot Program Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
2/27 HB 1570 Increases Regulations on Day Care Providers Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 26)
3/11 SB 296 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation Bill Passed - House (65 - 10)
3/06 SB 296 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5)
2/11 SB 2695 Establishes Education Scholarship Accounts for Special Needs Students Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21)
3/05 SB 129 Prohibits Government Interference with Religious Practice Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 15)
3/05 SB 1222 Prohibits Plea Agreements for Individuals Deported During Trial Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
3/03 SB 361 Amends Prevailing Wage Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
2/28 SB 361 Amends Prevailing Wage Laws Bill Passed - House (56 - 39)
2/12 SB 361 Amends Prevailing Wage Laws Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
3/11 HB 187 Prohibits Undocumented Immigrants from Receiving Student Financial Aid Bill Passed - House (111 - 41)
3/12 HB 1489 Reduces Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
3/12 SB 261 Increases Minimum Wage "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
5/07 HB 2307 Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
3/17 HB 2307 Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors Bill Passed - House (41 - 18)
3/11 HB 658 Prohibits Requiring Employees to Join or Pay Unions Bill Passed - House (149 - 146)
3/23 HF 1027 Amends Minimum Wage for Employees Receiving Gratuities Bill Passed - House (78 - 55)
3/24 SB 416 Requires Health Insurers to Cover In Vitro Fertilization for Same-Sex Couples Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 10)
3/20 HJM 4 Appeals to Congress to Impeach Certain Members of the Judiciary Bill Passed - House (44 - 25)
3/20 HJM 4 Appeals to Congress to Impeach Certain Members of the Judiciary Bill Passed - House (44 - 25)
4/07 AB 165 Establishes the Nevada Educational Choice Scholarship Program Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9)
4/01 AB 165 Establishes the Nevada Educational Choice Scholarship Program Bill Passed - House (25 - 17)

Page 1 of 4
arrow_upward